October 28, 2007
HERBIE HANCOCK HUMANITARIAN AWARD
ESTABLISHED
By Dee Dee McNeil
On Sunday, October 28, 2007, the newly created Herbie Hancock Humanitarian Award
was presented to Hancock at the Kodak Theater in Los Angeles, California. Rather than
a posthumous award, a theater full of Jazz icons and Jazz lovers gathered to tribute a
living, breathing musical genius. Hancock sat alive and well, basking in the glow of his
peers. The occasion was the 20 th Anniversary of the Thelonious Monk International Jazz
Trumpet Competition. This starstudded
evening was hosted by Thelonious Monk Jr. and
the celebrity judges included A&M record company icon and trumpeter, Herb Alpert,
Grammy award winning composer and educator, Terence Blanchard, Gold Record
Producer/arranger/composer, Quincy Jones, Jazz Icon and trumpet master, Clark Terry,
the young lion, Roy Hargrove and South African Jazz legend, Hugh Masekela. As if this
wasn’t enough talent, the concert and competition included appearances by George Duke
and Al Jarreau. Both performed with the three finalist of the trumpet competition.
Surprisingly, this amazing Humanitarian Award and tribute to Hancock was overlooked
by many in the news media. Perhaps this insensitivity will evaporate now that Hancock
has become the one and only Jazz musician to ever win a 2008 Grammy for his Record of
the Year, entitled River: The Joni Letters. Produced to tribute composer/singer Joni
Mitchell, Hancock’s win was a huge success for Jazz; America’s indigenous folk music.
Thespian, Louis Gossett Jr settled the SRO crowd down with a brief biography of
Hancock. His career is a mirror of Jazz history that embellishes five decades of
extraordinary music. Hancock is no novice when it comes to winning Grammy Awards.
He has collected eleven Grammys to date before this major achievement. As a prolific
composer, sensitive accompanist, innovative pianist and dedicated educator, Hancock has
worked with a myriad of legendary names in Jazz. Some of those historic names were in
attendance to confirm Gossett’s glowing remarks. Among the celebrity performers were
Rickey Minor, Musical Director of the Grammy Awards. Minor recently received an
Emmy for directing the CBS television special “Genius: A Night for Ray Charles,” and
is the current bandleader of the popular “American Idol” television success. Minor
pulled Hancock’s Award show together with the mastery he has exemplified over the
years. He knows the best of the best and they were all in attendance. Among them were
Patrice Rushen, Greg Phillinganes, Benny Maupin, Joni Mitchell, Harvey Mason, Louis
Conte, Bill Summers, Teddy Campbell, Vinnie Colaiuta and Kevin Ricard.
Internationally renowned flautist, Hubert Laws performed along with guitar masters Paul
Jackson, Jr., Lionel Loueke, Wah Wah Watson and legendary George Benson. Bass
players John Patitucci and Nathan East also appeared. GrandMixer DXT was on the
scene along with background vocalists Dorian Holley and Sy Smith. The ‘young lion’,
trumpter Roy Hargrove and the brilliant Chris Botti strutted their superior talents.
Keyboard masters George Duke and David Delhomme set the stage afire with energy and
innovation. Sting painted a bold new face on the old standard “My Funny Valentine.”
Nancy Wilson and Terence Blanchard sweetly sang Monk’s signature song, “Round
Midnight”, bending the notes as only those two know how to do. Jamie Foxx brought
unexpected comedy relief while singing a Hancock composition when the sound system
went berserk. The multitalented
actor/singer/composer/pianist and comedy legend
turned a technical disaster into a comedic moment. Inspite of some sound problems, the
show was taped for a television special. I doubt if you’ll see that part! Although Foxx
made the audience think the electronic bloop was very funny, they’ll probably edit it out.
At the conclusion of this unprecedented event, Hancock himself took to the stage along
with Wayne Shorter and thoroughly entertained us. This was the first time that the
Thelonious Monk International Jazz Trumpet Competition was held in Los Angeles and it
commemorated the Institute’s 20 th year anniversary. The concert ran about four hours,
but they’ll be whittling that down for a soontobe
television airing. Since Herbie
Hancock is always concerned about passing Jazz music on and encouraging music
students to pursue their dreams, it’s no wonder that ticket money from that event went to
support music programs worldwide. For more information about the nonprofit
Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz see www.monkinstitute.org. For more information
about Hancocks recent Grammy Award go to www.herbiehancock.com
Dee Dee McNeil–www.deedeemac.com
Freelance Journalist
ddmcneil@aol.com
Submitted to www.lajazz.com

Dee Dee McNeil
October 28, 2007

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